Skye Camanachd 9 Taynuilt 1. | |
16 May 2010 Skye Camanachd were convincing 9-1 winners over Marine Harvest South Division 1 side Taynuilt in their Balliemore Cup quarter final tie at Pairc nan Laoch, Portree on Saturday 15 May 2010.
Skye Camanachd first team manager Aonghas MacDonald made 3 changes to the starting line up from last week’s Macaulay Cup defeat to Lovat. John Moir returned to the defence following injury for his first game of the season. Iain Morrison made his first team debut at wing forward and AB Connor came off the bench to start in defence. Kerr Gibb was unavailable as he had a university exam and a hamstring injury ruled out Somhairle MacDonald. Dougie Rankin dropped out of the squad as did last week’s substitute Norman MacLeod. Andrew Banks and Martin Bruce were promoted from the second team and they started on the bench with veteran Willie MacRae.
Taynuilt manager Dave Thompson had problems of his own to contend with. Midfielder Gary Cameron was out with a fractured skull. Influential captain Willie Gillies was also missing as were full back George Reid and fellow defender James MacLaren.
Skye took the lead within a couple of minutes of the throw up. Iain Morrison played in a deep ball from the left which was misjudged by the visiting defence and Allan MacKinnon ghosted in at the back post to tuck the ball into the bottom corner of the net.
With 12 minutes played, referee Innes Wood awarded Skye a foul 30 yards from goal for bad language from a visiting defender. Kenny Campbell shot goalwards from the free hit but his shot was saved by keeper Stewart. Skye claimed for a “kick” but Iain Morrison ignored the pleas and nipped in to slot a bobbling ball into the net to make it 2-0.
Skye should have gone 3-0 up after 19 minutes. Allan MacKinnon played in a cross from the right which was dummied by Iain Nicolson. The ball fell to Iain Morrison who couldn’t get a shot on target. The loose ball fell for Nicolson but his shot went wide.
Allan MacLeod sent a great clearance from defence on 30 minutes which played in Jamie MacDonald on the Skye left. MacDonald played the ball forward to Iain Nicolson but his shot was well served by Stewart.
Just 3 minutes later a ball over the top from central midfield deceived the visiting defence but Stewart saved well again with his feet from Nicolson.
A Steven Morrison goal-hit on 36 minutes found Jamie MacDonald on the left. MacDonald played the ball forward to Iain Morrison on the wing and he crossed for Iain Nicolson but again Stewart made a good stop.
Skye manager Aonghas MacDonald made a positional switch after 41 minutes, swapping full centre Kenny Campbell with buckshee forward Gilleasbuig MacDonald.
The move paid immediate dividends when Campbell surged forward and took on the Taynuilt defence. He beat a couple of defenders before his path was blocked. However he reacted first to pick up the loose ball on the right and he smashed an unstoppable shot off the far post into the net.
Campbell added his second a minute later when he dribbled round the keeper and rolled the ball into the back of the net.
Campbell completed a 4 minute hat-trick just before the break to leave the Islanders 5-0 ahead.
Aonghas MacDonald made a couple of changes at the start of the second half. Allan MacLeod and Shockie MacLennan were withdrawn and 18 year old Andrew Banks and 16 year old Martin Bruce came on to make their first team debuts in defence. Skye full back Steven Morrison was pushed forward to take up the full centre role.
Skye continued on the offensive and an intelligent reverse pass from Iain Morrison set up Allan MacKinnon but his shot rebounded from Stewart’s left hand post.
Skye went 6-0 up on 55 minutes when Iain Nicolson was rewarded with a goal for his endeavour when he fired a 20 yard drive high into the net.
Jamie Gannon was forced into action on 62 minutes when he made a tidy stop.
A minute later Skye scored their seventh and it was Iain Morrison who lifted the ball past keeper Stewart to net his second.
Taynuilt were probably enjoying their best period of the game and when full centre Willie Neilson burst forward after 65 minutes and he blasted a shot high past Jamie Gannon to make it 7-1.
Skye introduce 1990 Camanachd Cup winner Willie MacRae in place of Iain Nicolson after 81 minutes and he was on the scoresheet 5 minutes later, even if he knew little about it. Kenny Campbell sent 25 yard shot on target which deflected off MacRae’s chest and flew past keeper Stewart to make it 8-1.
Iain Morrison can be very pleased with his contribution as he completed the scoring and his own debut hat-trick when he made it 9-1 after 88 minutes.
Skye will now face either Kinlochshiel or Beauly in the Balliemore Cup semi finals but their immediate focus will turn to Kilmallie in this weekend’s Scottish Hydro Electric Camanachd Cup second round.
Skye Camanachd from; Jamie Gannon, Steven Morrison (captain), AB Connor, John Moir, Allan MacLeod, (Andrew Banks), Shockie MacLennan, (Martin Bruce), Kenny Campbell, Jamie MacDonald, Gilleasbuig MacDonald, Allan MacKinnon, Iain Morrison, Ian Nicolson (Willie MacRae)
Match Referee – Innes Wood |